[Peace-discuss] Support Genuine Peace in the Middle East

[C. G. Estabrook]

Not bad in what it says, but some things aren't mentioned, notably a
Palestinian right of return (which would probably be transformed into a
compensation plan) and the racist nature of Jewish state (which could
conceivably co-exist with a sovereign Palestinian).  And the statement as
written would not seem to preclude the new Palestinian state's being a
sort of Bantustan (the "sovereign" African home-lands under apartheid) --
e.g., would the Israeli military control the airspace and borers of the
Palestinian state?


On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 prorobert8 at hotmail.com wrote:

> A RESOLUTION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE
> 
> WHEREAS we recognize the humanity and fundamental decency of both the
> Israeli and Palestinian people, and wish to see them living in peace
> with each other, side by side in a safe Israel and a safe Palestine,
> 
> AND WHEREAS we abhor acts of terror, violence and denial of human
> rights,
> 
> AND WHEREAS the continuation of this conflict is destructive to the
> people of the Middle East, counter to the best interests and values of
> the United States, and might contribute to an increase in
> anti-Semitism and anti-Arab prejudices,
> 
> BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES URGES THE
> PRESIDENT TO:
> 
> Seek an immediate end to violence and terror in the Middle East by
> introducing an international buffer of genuinely unbiased and neutral
> 
> (a) Return of Israel to its pre-1967 borders, with minor border
> modifications mutually agreed upon (language adopted at Taba in 2001
> by both parties to indicate that a few Israeli border settlements and
> the Jewish sections of Jerusalem including the Wall would be
> incorporated into Israel, and that Arab sections of Jerusalem
> including the al-Aksa mosque would be incorporated into Palestine);
> 
> (b) Creation of an economically and politically viable, democratically
> governed and human-rights-respecting Palestinian state in all of the
> pre-1967 West Bank and Gaza including East Jerusalem;
> 
> (c) An international fund to provide compensation for Palestinians and
> to assist in resettling Palestinian refugees inside the borders of the
> new Palestinian state, and to provide compensation for Israelis who
> fled from persecution in Arab lands, and to resettle Israeli settlers
> within the pre-1967 borders of Israel;
> 
> (d) Peaceful relations, economic cooperation, and diplomatic
> recognition of Israel and the Palestinian state by surrounding Arab
> and Islamic states;
> 
> (e) Sharing by Israel, Palestine and surrounding Arab states of the
> water and other resources of the area and joint cooperation to
> preserve the region's ecological wellbeing;
> 
> (f) Active participation of Palestine and Israel, in cooperation with
> international forces, to protect both countries from the inevitable
> violence and terrorism that will continue after this peace agreement
> has been implemented - recognizing that some groups will continue to
> use violence against Israel even after it has returned to its pre-1967
> borders or against Palestine even when its government and the majority
> of its people seek to live in peace with Israel;
> 
> (g) International guarantees of the safety and security of both Israel
> and Palestine, either through bilateral mutual defense agreements with
> the United States, or some similar arrangements with a credible
> international force which will protect Israel and Palestine from any
> states or terrorist groups that have hostile intentions;
> 
> (h) The creation of institutions in both societies designed to
> eliminate the teaching of hatred and stereotyping in the media,
> religious communities, and educational systems, and to support
> educational and social practices aimed at building trust and
> cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, fostering
> repentance for past violations of human rights, and promoting a new
> spirit of reconciliation, recognition of the humanity of the other,
> and generosity towards each other.
>